Information, Cornerstone Of Democracy – Chime

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has described access to information as one of the cornerstones of democracy as it gives the individual the right to obtain public information in a manner that allows him to hold and express sound opinions on national issues.

The Governor who stated this last Monday, in an address at the South East zonal workshop on access to Information and Democratic Governance in Enugu, further described the Freedom of Information Act which confers the right of access to information on the people of Nigeria as one of the most important laws enacted under the current Federal Government administration in its pursuit of a transformation agenda for the nation.

Chime who was represented by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Tony Ani, noted that the FOI vested the citizens of the country with statutory powers to ensure transparency and accountability in the public services as they now had the right to access to information on almost everything done by government and in public institutions.

He, however, noted that the importance and consequence of the Freedom of Information would not be appreciated or benefits fully realised if conscious and concerted efforts were not made to bring it to the door steps of those saddled with the task of enforcing and implementing it as well as to those of the ordinary citizens of the country.

The governor commended the Federal Ministry of Justice and all its partners for the initiative to embark on the sensitisation campaign, promising that his administration would offer all necessary assistance and cooperation to ensure that the intended goals and objectives were fully realised.

In his address, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke said that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had instructed that the Freedom of Information Act be administered with diligence and clarity.

He expressed satisfaction that some states in the country were in the process of enacting their freedom of information laws, adding that the implementation of the act was one of the cardinal strategies of his office.

Adoke used the forum to call on Pubic institutions in the country to be ready to answer requests for information and enjoined them also to practice good records management to ensure that information is identified and retrieved.

He further noted that though there were significant challenges that confront the implementation of the Freedom of Information laws, public officers must learn to shift from a culture of secrecy to one of transparency, among others.